Reporters on the scene said that some of Avery's teammates were appalled by his comments, with an obviously annoyed Marty Turco saying, "The show continues." Stars ownership answered without mincing words.

"I completely support the league's decision to suspend Sean Avery," team owner Thomas Hicks said in a statement. "Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so."

Of course, one might accuse Hickey of shutting the door after the horse's behind has escaped. The Stars knew who Avery was when they signed him.

So, let's review. The Kings trade Avery to the New York Rangers. Dustin Brown -- Avery's whipping boy -- blossoms into a quality NHL player and team leader, as the Kings begin moving forward. The Rangers allow Avery to leave and immediately zoom to the top of the Eastern Conference. And the Stars? Well, they wallow in last place in the Pacific Division.

The belief is that at some point Avery's rap sheet will scare off every general manager in North America. And then? Well, does Avery speak Russian?

-- Chris Foster

Photo: Last week, Sean Avery chatted with fans during warmups before a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Credit: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images